AI-generated illustration; not a photograph of the reported event.
- calendar_today October 21, 2026
Kelowna Runner Named Canadian Backyard Ultra National Champion
Michael Serani of Kelowna, B.C., has been crowned the Canadian backyard ultra national champion after logging a remarkable 549.8 kilometres over 82 continuous hours. This accomplishment took place during the recent Backyard Ultra World Team Championship in Sicamous, B.C.
Competing in the Backyard Ultra World Team Championship
Serani was among 15 runners selected to represent Canada in the Backyard Ultra World Team Championship, joining over 60 other national teams participating simultaneously in various locations around the globe. The event challenges teams to collectively log as many kilometres as possible, with individual performances contributing vital points to their nation’s standings.
The Unique Format of Backyard Ultra Racing
The backyard ultra is a distinctive endurance running event with no predetermined finish line. Athletes must complete a 6.7-kilometre loop, referred to as a “yard,” every hour on the hour. This sequence continues for as long as competitors are able, with runners eliminated from the race when they can no longer complete a loop within the given hour.
Victory is determined by the final competitor who completes a full yard after all others have dropped out, meaning the minimum margin of victory is always a single 6.7-kilometre lap.
Serani’s Performance and Team Results
Over three and a half days, Michael Serani and Ontario’s Michael Rouleau emerged as the top contenders on the Canadian team. Serani claimed the national title by finishing one lap ahead of Rouleau, who completed 543 kilometres. Canada’s combined effort in the event earned the team ninth place in the global standings.
The format’s relentless demands highlight both athletic endurance and psychological resilience, demonstrated by the lengthy duration and continuous effort required at the championship level.
Behind the Runners: The Role of Support Crews
Crucial to each runner’s success is the support crew—compared by participants to a Formula One pit crew—who provide food, hydration, sock changes, and mental encouragement during brief breaks between laps. Barry Nakahara, a member of Serani’s support team, commended Serani both as an athlete and as a positive presence among competitors. “Michael [Serani] is an amazing athlete, for one. But more on top of that, he’s an amazing person. Just so positive,” Nakahara commented.
Nakahara aided Serani during the first two days of the race before handing off responsibilities to Serani’s wife and her family. Crew members are tasked with mitigating potential problems such as chafing and blisters, managing rest, nutrition, and motivating the runner to continue, hour after hour.
Building Camaraderie and Pushing Limits
Beyond the competitive element, Nakahara highlighted the camaraderie on display during the event. He noted that Serani often ran side-by-side with fellow athletes, encouraging them to continue and “run just one more lap.” This attitude, combined with strategic pacing and crew coordination, played a key role in Serani’s triumph at the backyard ultra championship—and in Canada’s showing on the global stage.
Source: cbc.ca.
